PRIME – New PharmaNet Users Must Enrol on Dec 1, 2020. Nov. 27, 2020

PRIME – New PharmaNet Users Must Enrol on Dec 1, 2020. 

Beginning on December 1, 2020 all new PharmaNet users must enrol in PRIME. 

Beginning December 1, 2020, all newly registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who require access to PharmaNet to provide health services to individuals within pharmacy practice settings must enrol in PRIME.

Those who had access to PharmaNet previously, but not on November 30, 2020, must also enrol in PRIME if they need access to PharmaNet to provide health services.

PRIME is an online application. By enrolling in PRIME, individual users apply directly to the Ministry of Health for approval to access PharmaNet. Once approved, a workplace PharmaNet administrator helps set up their PharmaNet account.

If you currently have PharmaNet access, no action is required at this time.

What is PRIME? 

PRIME is an online application for eligible healthcare practitioners who need PharmaNet to provide health services. 

PRIME does not create PharmaNet access accounts. By enrolling in PRIME, individual users apply directly to the Ministry of Health for approval to access PharmaNet. Once the Ministry has approved a user for PharmaNet access, an administrator in their workplace or a PharmaNet software vendor sets up an access account.

PharmaNet is governed by the Pharmaceutical Services Act, the Information Management Regulation and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. PRIME satisfies the following legislated requirements of the Information Management Regulation under the Pharmaceutical Services Act: 

• The Ministry of Health determines the criteria for access to PharmaNet
• The Ministry of Health approves and grants access to PharmaNet 
• The Ministry of Health monitors and audits PharmaNet access
• The Ministry of Health may restrict, suspend, or terminate PharmaNet access. 

PRIME is an enrolment and user management system and does not replace the current point-of-service PharmaNet access software. PRIME provides the administrative capacity to effectively manage large numbers of new PharmaNet users. 

PharmaNet is a critical part of B.C.’s health care system, necessary for ensuring prescription safety and protecting British Columbians from adverse medication reactions as well as prescription fraud. With the demand for PharmaNet constantly increasing, PRIME is intended to address multiple issues related to PharmaNet user management, including: 

• Individual accountability for access to PharmaNet;  
• Improved safeguards to protect the health information of British Columbians;
• Consistent reporting of access for all PharmaNet users and administrators;
• Clearly defined criteria for access to PharmaNet; and 
• A web-based, mostly automated system for streamlined request processing

PRIME was originally an acronym for PharmaNet Revisions for Information Management Enhancement.

Who is Required to Enrol in PRIME Starting on December 1, 2020? 

As of December 1, 2020, those without existing PharmaNet access must enrol using PRIME. At this time, anyone who already has PharmaNet access will not have that access affected.

For existing PharmaNet users, there will be a transition period, ending on April 1, 2022, during which all existing PharmaNet users will be required to enrol in PRIME to maintain their access to PharmaNet. This will be done gradually, and the Ministry of Health will provide notice to existing users for enrolment in PRIME. 

This means that on December 1, 2020, there will be no changes to how existing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants currently use PharmaNet. 

If you currently have PharmaNet access, no action is required now. Please stay tuned for further information regarding your PRIME enrolment. 

New PharmaNet Users 

As of December 1, 2020, newly registered pharmacists who need access to PharmaNet to provide health services must enrol in PRIME before they can access PharmaNet. 

Additionally, all first-time PharmaNet users, as well as any past users who did not have access on November 30, 2020, must also enrol in PRIME to access PharmaNet. This includes pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants who may access PharmaNet on behalf of a pharmacist.

Enrolling in PRIME

PRIME enrolment only takes a few minutes. The College recommends registrants complete their enrolment on the day they begin work at their place of employment, by following these steps:

• Set up your mobile BC Services Card 

Before you can enrol in PRIME, you must set up your BC Services Card on your mobile device if you haven’t done so already. 

This is a one-time process that can be completed during BC Services Card business hours. 

• Enrol in PRIME

Before enrolling in PRIME, new College registrants should ensure that they have completed the College’s Registration application process, received their registration confirmation notice and registration number, and confirmed employment in a pharmacy or other applicable healthcare setting, as this information must be provided upon enrolment.  They should also set up their mobile BC Services Card.

• Enrol In PRIME

Once you access PRIME with your mobile BC Services Card, you will be asked to provide or confirm the following basic information: 

• Name (legal and preferred), address, phone number, birthdate
  • Your name (legal or preferred) must exactly match the registration information
• Email address (for the PRIME system to send notifications)
• College ID number (registration number), registration type, and registration expiry date
• Email address for your workplace PharmaNet administrator
• Declaration of any past disciplinary or legal actions against you related to handling confidential information. 

• Accept the PharmaNet User Terms of Access

Once you have completed the application, you must read and accept the PharmaNet User Terms of Access. The terms of your access are based on your College registration and/or your role in patient care, the location where you are using PharmaNet to deliver patient care, and any limits or conditions set by the Ministry. 

• Enrolment Notification and Your Global PharmaNet ID

Once you have accepted the terms of access, PRIME will assign you a global PharmaNet ID (GPID). The GPID will be attached to all your PharmaNet transactions. It must be associated with your PharmaNet user account(s) on whichever software you use to access PharmaNet. It is not the credential you use to log in to PharmaNet, and you do not need to memorize your GPID.

Depending on your work setting, you may use PRIME to notify an appropriate person at your workplace that your GPID is available, or your system may be set up to capture your GPID automatically. Talk to the person responsible in your workplace for PharmaNet access accounts before you enrol in PRIME so you understand how your PRIME notification should be routed.

MoH Resources 

• PRIME web page (with video enrolment tutorial)
• Pharmacy Access to PharmaNet  
• Health Authority Facility Access to PharmaNet
• Private Community Health Practice Access to PharmaNet  
• Mobile BC Services Card
• CPBC – Pharmacist Registration
• PharmaNet Webpage

Additional Questions? 

Questions about PRIME should be directed to: 

1-844-397-7463 or

[email protected]